Oscillation operated elevatable swing



1968 e. D. THORNTON OSCILLATION OPERATED ELEVATABLE SWING 5 Sheets-Sheet1 Filed Dec. 7, 1964 INVENTOR. Gemye 8 flora/512 BY 1968 G. D. THORNTONOSCILLATION OPERATED ELEVATABLE SWING Filed Dec. 7, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet2 I INVENTOR. Gevzye p9. flax/M011 1968 I G. D. THORNTON 3,411,774

OSCILLATION OPERATED ELEVATA'BLE SWING Filed Dec. 7, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet5 l N VEN TOR. Geage & flax/rib fiilk/zz United States Patent Otfice3,411,774 Patented Nov. 19, 1968 3,411,774 OSCILLATION OPERATEDELEVATABLE SWING George D. Thornton, 29179 Longview, Apt. 19, Warren,Mich. 48093 Filed Dec. 7, 1964, Ser. No. 416,492 16 Claims. (Cl. 272-6)ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A swing assembly in which a rope or cable hasa seat or platform at the lower end thereof, such rope or cable beingattached at its upper end to a rotatable pulley. As the seat oscillatesback and forth, the pulley is caused to rotate in a winding directionand prevented from rotating in an unwinding direction. At apredetermined point, the clutch means preventing unwinding rotation ofthe pulley is released, allowing the seat or platform to fall in anunimpeded manner to the fully extended position of the rope or cable.

This invention relates to a swing, and more particularly to a swingwhich will oscillate, or swing back and forth, beneath a support and atthe same time will elevate a predetermined amount and then drop to itsextended position.

It is the general practice to construct swing assemblies in such amanner that the swing depends from an overhead support, the swing seator platform being secured at the end of a single rope or a pair of ropesso that the platform may be oscillated to and fro beneath the support.It is becoming increasingly popular to utilize a tubular supportstructure which may be easily assembled adn disassembled 'fortransportation from place to place, and which may easily be mounted inan area where other suitable supports may not be found.

It is here proposed to provide a swing device which will not onlyoscillate, or swing back and forth beneath a support, but will alsoelevate a predetermined distance and then drop back to the extendedposition, thus providing a different type of ride for the person usingthe swing. The elevating assembly may be formed of a unit easily mountedover the generally available type of tubular support and locked in placeon the support alongside of, or in place of, other swings or the likemounted on the same support. The device includes a pulley structure towhich the rope or cable is secured and which is rotated by means of theoscillation of the swing, the pulley being allowed to rotate in awinding direction but prevented from rotating in an unwinding directionto elevate the platform or seat. At a predetermined point, that is, apredetermined amount of elevation of the platform or seat, or apredetermined degree of rotation of the pulley, the pulley is releasedto freely rotate in the unwinding direction allowing the rope or cableto unwind from the pulley and dropping the seat or platform to the fullyextended position. A shock absorbing device is disposed between the ropeor cable and the platform to take up the shock of the drop. Thus, it isthe swinging action itself which causes the elevating of the platformand the rope or cable actuates the releasing mechanism to permit theunwinding and dropping of the rope or cable and seat. This gives anentirely different type of action than the normal oscillating swing, andan entirely different ride and sensation to the user.

These and other features and advantages of the invention will becomemore apparent from the following description and drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a typical swing support structure withthe elevating and dropping swing assemblies mounted thereon.

FIGURE 2 is an elevational view of the pulley mechanism and assemblywhich causes the swing to elevate and drop.

FIGURE 3 is a side view of the assembly illustrated in FIGURE 2, takensubstantially along the line 3-3 of FIGURE 2 and looking in thedirection of the arrows, with parts broken away and in section toillustrate the position of the various parts.

FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view of the structure illustrated inFIGURES 2 and 3, taken substantially along the line 4-4 of FIGURE 3 andlooking in the direction of the arrows.

FIGURE 5 is a partial sectional view of a portion of the assemblyillustrated in FIGURES 2 through 4 to illustrate the pulley latchingmeans which permits the winding and unwinding of the rope or cable aboutthe pulley.

FIGURE 6 is a cross-sectional view of the connection between the rope orcable and the platform or seat illustrating the shock absorbingmechanism.

FIGURE 7 is an elevational view similar to FIGURE 2 of anotherembodiment of the invention.

FIGURE 8 is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment illustrated inFIGURE 7.

FIGURE 9 is a cross-sectional view of the embodiments illustrated inFIGURES 7 and 8, taken substantially along the line 99 of FIGURE 8 andlooking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, FIG- URE 1 best illustratesa typical swing installation in which an overhead support bar 10, whichmay be generally horizontal, is supported from the ground by means ofangularly outwardly directed legs 11. Suitable connecting means 12secure the overhead support 10 to the legs 11 in such manner that theymay be easily assembled or disassembled for movement from place toplace. Illustrated generally by the numeral 14 is a swing assemblywhich, in this instance, encompasses a single rope or cable 16 having acircular platform 18 secured to the lower end. It is to be understoodthat the member 16 can be any elongated means, as a rope or cable,sufiicient to support the weight of the user. For ease in description,the member 16 is hereinafter referred to as a rope. The rope '16 dependsfrom the elevating and releasing mechanism, illustrated generally by thenumeral 20 and which will be hereinafter described in more detail. Swing14 is such that the user may straddle the rope 16 and sit on theplatform or seat 18 to swing to and fro beneath the overhead support bar10.

Referring next to FIGURES 2 through 5, a preferred embodiment of theinvention is more particularly illus trated. Received over the supportbar 10 is a mounting sleeve 22 to which is secured the remainder of theassembly. As will become hereinafter more apparent, sleeve 22 is notnecessary for the operation of the assembly but is provided in order topermit the mechanism 20 to be manufactured as a complete assembly andmore easily mounted on the support bar 10.

Received over the mounting sleeve 22 is a bearing sleeve 24 which isfree to rotate on the mounting sleeve 22, or directly on the support bar10 if the mounting sleeve is not provided. Bearing sleeve 24 has agenerally radial aperture 26 formed at one point therethrou-gh forpurposes to become hereinafter more apparent.

In order to hold the bearing sleeve 24 in its proper axial position onthe mounting sleeve 22, a pair of looking rings 28 are received over themounting sleeve 22 and bolts 30 extend through the rings 28, themounting sleeve 22 and the support pipe 10. The entire unit is held inplace by suitable nuts 32 received over the threaded ends of bolts 30.Thus, the rings 28 and bolts 30 locate the bearing sleeve 24 relative tothe mountin sleeve 22 and also mount the entire assembly on the supportbar or pipe 10.

Substantially centrally received on the bearing sleeve 24 is a pulley,illustrated generally by the numeral 34, having an rarcuate outercircumference 36 to receive the rope 16 and about which the rope iswound. Pulley 34 has a central web 38, and an inner hub received on thebearing sleeve 34. The pulley 34 is rotatable relative to the bearingsleeve. Formed through the arcuate outer circumference 36, the web 38and the hub 40 is a radial passage 42, the purpose for which will belater described. Passage 42 is, in one position of the pulley, alignedwith the aperture 26 formed in the bearing sleeve 24.

Rope 16, as best illustrated in FIGURE 3, may be secured in the pulley34 in any suitable manner, as by passing the end through a suitableaperture 44 in one side wall of the pulley web 38, the rope 16 beingbent into engagement with the side surface of the web 38 and securedthereon by :a suitable clip 46. The clip is held in place by machinescrews or the like 48. The rope 16 thus is secured to the pulley and asthe pulley rotates the rope 16 Will be wound around the arcuatecircumferential surface 36 to elevate the platform 18.

Also mounted on bearing sleeve 24 and on opposite sides of the pulley 34are a pair of plate members, illustrated generally by the numeral 50.Plate members have circular portions 52 received over the bearing sleeve24 and are rotatable with respect to the bearing sleeve 24. The lowerportions 54 of the plate members 50 depend downwardly from the bearingsleeve 24 and below the pulley 34. A pair of connecting pins 56 extendbetween the lower ends of the portions 54, the pins 56 being surroundedby rollers 58 which also act as spacer members therebetween. Suitablebolts or machine screws 60 secure the assembly together. The rope 16 ispassed between the rollers 58 and then hangs downwardly to the platformor seat 18.

In order to secure the pulley 34 and the plate members 50 in theirproper axial position on the bearing sleeve 24, a pair of locating rings62 are provided. Rings 62 are secured to the bearing sleeve by means ofset screws or the like 64 and thus properly position the various partsaxially of the bearing sleeve 24.

Disposed between the right hand plate member 50 and the locking ring 28is a spring, illustrated generally by the numeral 66, wound about thebearing sleeve 24 and having an inturned end 68 received in a suitableaperture in the plate member 50. Spring 66 is wound in such a directionaround the bearing sleeve 24 that as the plate member movescounterclockwise, as viewed in FIGURE 3, the spring will tighten on thebearing sleeve 24 and cause the bearing sleeve to rotate with the platemember 50. On the opposite side of the pulley 34 is a second spring,illustrated generally by the numeral 70, having an end 72 received in :asuitable aperture in the left hand locking ring 28. Spring is wound insuch direction that as the bearing sleeve 24 rotates in acounterclockwise direction to tighten spring 66, spring 70 will tend tounwind, thus loosening from the bearing sleeve 24. As rotation of thebearing sleeve in a clockwise direction is attempted, the spring 70 willtighten about the bearing sleeve 24 and, being fixed to the lock ring28, will prevent such rotation of the bearing sleeve.

Received in the aperture 42 in the pulley 34 is a latch pin, illustratedgenerally by the numeral 74. Latch pin 74 extends through the puley 34and into the aperture 26 formed in the bearing sleeve 24. A suitablecollar 76 formed midway of the pin 74 serves as a biasing collar for acompression spring 78, disposed in the aperture 42 and held in place bya threaded bushing 80. The upper portion 82 of lock pin 74 has atransverse aperture 84 formed therethrough, aperture 84 having conicalor countersunk ends for purposes to become hereinafter more apparent.

Pivotally mounted in the pulley 34 is a lever, illustrated generally bythe numeral 86, mounted on a pivot pin 88 extending between the sidewalls of the pulley 34. Extending outwardly from the lever 86 is a pin90 which is received in the aperture 84 formed in the lock pin 74. Itwill be apparent that as the lever 86 is depressed the pin 90 will causethe latch pin 74 to withdraw from the aperture 26 against the force ofthe biasing spring 78. Once the latch pin 74 is withdrawn, pulley 34 isfree to rotate relative to the bearing sleeve 24. As is now apparent,the countersunk ends of the aperture 84 prevent any binding between thepin 90 and the latch pin 74.

Referring next to FIGURE 6, the shock absorbing mechanism for the seator platform 18 is best shown. Rope 16 extends downwardly to a tubularmember 92 and is secured to the tubular member 92 in any convenientmanner, as set screws 94. Tubular member 92 is slidably disposed withina pipe or conduit 96, the conduit having a threaded lower end 98 toreceive lock nuts 100 disposed on opposite sides of the seat or platform18. Thus, the conduit 96 is rigidly secured to the platform. The upperend of pipe or conduit 96 is provided with a cap 102, secured to thepipe or conduit 96 in any suitable manner and having a central aperture104 to permit passage of the rope or cable 16 therethrough. An innerplug 106 is also secured in the end of pipe 96 and a compression spring108 is disposed between the tubular member 92 and the plug 106. It willbe apparent that spring 108 is the connection between the rope or cable16 and the platform 18. As the platform 18 reaches the extendedposition, when it is falling, the spring 108 will take up the shock ofthe users weight.

The operation of the embodiment illustrated in FIG- URES 2 through 6will now be explained. Assuming that the rope 16 is hanging from thepulley 34 and the latch pin 74 is engaged in the aperture 26 in thebearing sleeve 24, the user may start the swing in its oscillatingmotion beneath the support 10. As the swing moves to the right, asviewed in FIGURE 3, the rope 16 will engage the right hand roller 58 andcause the plate members 50 to rotate in a counterclockwise direction.The spring 66 tightens around the bearing sleeve 24 and the spring 70relaxes to cause the bearing sleeve to rotate in a counterclockwisedirection to a certain amount. As the swing starts to move toward theleft, as viewed in FIGURE 3, the rope 16 will engage the left handroller 58, causing the plate members to return and pass beyond thevertical, rotating in a clockwise direction. With this rotation thespring 66 relaxes on the bearing sleeve 24, the spring 70 tightens onthe bearing sleeve 24, and the bearing sleeve is prevented from rotatingalong with the plate members 50. The rope 16 again swings toward theright and again causes rotation of the plate members 50 in acounterclockwise direction. The springs 66 and 70 permit the bearingsleeve 24 and the pulley 34 to rotate another increment in acounterclockwise direction, thus winding the rope 16 around the outercircumference of the pulley. This motion continues until the lever 86has advanced around the support 10 with the pulley 34 to a position inengagement with the rope 16, such as is shown in dashed and dotted linesin FIGURE 3. At this point, further rotation of the bearing sleeve 24and pulley 34 cause the lever 86 to be depressed beneath the rope 16,releasing the latch pin 74 from its engagement with the bearing sleeve24. When this happens, the pulley 34 is free to rotate relative to thebearing sleeve 24 and the platform 18 will drop rapidly due to theweight of the user. Thus, the pulley 34 will rotate relative to thebearing sleeve 24 and the rope 16 will unwind. Once the oscillatingmotion is again started, the bearing sleeve 24 is rotated about thesupport 10 until the aperture 26 lines up with the passage 42 and thelatch pin 74 can again engage the bearing sleeve 24. Continuedoscillation of the rope 16 will again wind the rope or cable around thepulley 34 for another elevation and dropping of the seat or platform 18.

Referring now to FIGURES 7 through 9, another modification of theabovedescribed construction is shown, and wherein like parts areindicated by like reference numerals.

The mounting or supporting sleeve 22 is secured to the support pipe bymeans of bolts and nuts -32. Mounted on the support sleeve 22 is abearing sleeve 110, the outward ends of 112 and 114 being provided with-a suitable polygonal shape, such as the hexagon shown in FIGURE 9.Pulley 34, with its latch pin 74, is mounted on the bearing sleeve 110,the latch pin 74 being adapted to engage a suitable aperture 116 in thebearing sleeve 110. The pulley 34 is rotatable relative to the bearingsleeve in the manner above-described.

Mounted on the hexagonal portion 112 of bearing sleeve 110, and adjacentthe hub 40 of pulley 34, is a ratchet gear, illustrated generally by thenumeral 118. Ratchet 118 includes a hub portion 120 having an innerconfiguration to suitably secure the ratchet 118 on the portion 112.Such suitable configuration may be the twelve point structure shown inFIGURE 9 and indicated by the numeral 122. Extending radially outwardlyfrom the hub 120* of the ratchet 118 are a plurality of teeth 124.Mounted on the hub 120 and straddling the teeth 124 is a plate assembly,illustrated generally by the numeral 126. Plate assembly 126 includesside members 128 separated by spacer pins 130, the plate members 128extending downwardly beneath the pulley 34. Disposed on a suitable pivotpin 132 mounted between the plate members 128 is a pawl 134 having teethengageable with teeth 124 on the ratchet gear 118. Also mounted betweenthe plate members 128 is a spring 136 to engage the pawl 134 and biasthe pawl into engagement with the teeth 124 on the ratchet gear 118. Thetooth construction on both the ratchet and pawl are such that the pawlwill engage and pull the ratchet 118 in one direction of rotation of theplate assembly 126 and will disengage from the ratchet when the plateassembly 126 is rotated in the opposite direction.

Disposed on the opposite side of pulley 34 from the plate assembly 126is a plate member 138, received upon and being relatively rotatable withrespect to the bearing sleeve 110. Plate member 138 extends downwardlybeneath the pulley 34 and is connected to the plate assembly 126 bymeans of a pair of central pins 56 and roller spacers 58 asabove-described. A suitable bolt 140 may be used to secure the partstogether. The rope 16 extends between the two rollers in the mannerabove-described and is secured to the pulley 34 by means of the clip 46and screws or the like 48.

On the hexagonal section 114 of the bearing sleeve 110 is disposed asecond ratchet gear, illustrated generally by the numeral 142. Ratchet142 includes a hub 144 formed in similar manner to the ratchet 118 andoutwardly directed teeth 14-6. A pair of plates 148, separated by spacerpins 150, are mounted on the hub 144 and straddling the teeth 146.

In order to properly locate the bearing sleeve 110 and the remainder ofthe assembly on the supporting sleeve 22, a pair of locking rings 152are secured to the supporting sleeve 22 by suitable set screws or thelike 154. Spacer ring 155 may be mounted between the right hand lockring 152 and the ratchet gear 118, or elsewhere, as desired. Mounted onthe left hand locking ring 152, as viewed in FIGURE 8, is a bracket 156secured to the ring in any suitable manner as by bolt 158. Bracket 156includes outwardly directed flanges 160 which enclose the plates 148straddling the teeth 146 on the ratchet gear 142. The flanges 160 serveto maintain the plates 148 in the orientation pictured in the drawingsfor purposes to become hereinafter more apparent. A suitable pawl 162 ismounted between the plates 148 and biased into engagement with the teeth146 by a spring 164. The tooth construction is such that the pawl willbe engaged with the teeth 146 in one direction of rotation and will bedisengaged from the teeth in another direction of rotation.

The operation of the embodiment illustrated in FIG- URES 7 through 9will now be described. As the rope 16 is swung to and fro beneath thepulley 34 and the support 10, and with the latch pin 74 properly engagedin the aperture 116 in the bearing sleeve 110, movement to the right, asviewed in FIGURE 9, of the rope 16 will cause the pawl 134 to engage theratchet gear 118 and rotate the bearing sleeve 110 and pulley 34 in acounterclockwise direction, again as viewed in FIGURE 9. This, ofcourse, causes an increment of the rope 16 to wind around the rotatingpulley 34. As the rope 16 swings in the opposite direction, the pawl 134will disengage from the teeth 124 of ratchet 118, permitting the plateassembly 126 to move with the rope 16, and the pawl 162 on the oppositeside of pulley 34 will engage the teeth 146 on the ratchet 142. Thus,the bearing sleeve will be prevented from rotating in a clockwisedirection as the rope 16 swings to the left of the vertical of FIGURE 9.Again, movement toward the right of rope 16 will cause the pawl 134 toengage the teeth 124 of ratchet 118 and will cause the pawl 162 todisengage from the ratchet teeth 146. Movement or rotation of thebearing sleeve 110 and the pulley 34 in a winding or counterclockwisedirection will occur thus elevating the platform or seat 18. Such motionwill continue until the lever 86 is depressed, as abovedescribed, andthe pin 74 is disengaged from the bearing sleeve 110. The pulley thenswings freely and unwinds the rope 16 to drop the seat 18. Continuedmovement of the swing will eventually reengage the latch pin 74 with thebeating sleeve 110 to elevate the swing 18.

Thus, a swing structure is provided which creates a sensation or anaction which is completely new in the art of swings. The structure iseasily manufactured and assembled and may be easily adapted to existingswing support structures. Certain modifications and changes will becomeapparent to those having skill in the art after having had reference tothe foregoing description and drawings. However, it is not intended tolimit the scope of the invention by the foregoing description anddrawings, but by the scope of the appended claims in which:

I claim:

1. A swing structure comprising:

a support;

a pulley rotatably mounted on said support;

elongated means secured to said pulley and hanging for oscillatingmovement therefrom, first means being operable to rotate said pulley inone direction in response to oscillation of said elongated means;

a platform secured to the lower end of said elongated means; secondmeans operatively connected to said pulley to permit rotation only insaid one direction, and third means operatively connected to said pulleywhereby said second means is releasable in response to a predetermineddegree of rotation of said pulley in said one direction to permitunimpeded rotation' of said pulley in the other direction to unwind saidelongated means from said pulley and permit said platform to fall to anextended position.

2. A swing structure comprising:

a support;

a pulley rotatably mounted on said support;

elongated means secured to said pulley and hanging for oscillatingmovement therefrom and having a seat on the lower end thereof, means toincrementally rotate said pulley and wind said elongated means aroundsaid pulley and raise said seat as said pulley is rotated in onedirection by oscillation of said elongated means;

means operatively connected to said pulley to permit rotation thereof inonly said one direction;

and releasing means on said pulley to permit unimpeded rotation in theother direction in response to a predetermined degree of rotation ofsaid pulley to permit said elongated means to unwind therefrom and saidseat to fall to the fully extended position.

3. A swing structure comprising:

a support;

a pulley rotatably mounted on said support;

elongated means secured to said pulley and hanging for oscillatingmovement therefrom;

a platform secured to the lower end of said elongated means;

first means operatively connected to said pulley and to said elongatedmeans and operable by said elongated means to cause winding rotation ofsaid pulley by oscillation of said elongated means;

second means operatively connected to said pulley to prevent unwindingrotation thereof while the pulley is being wound by oscillation of saidelongated means;

and releasing means on said pulley to permit unimpeded unwindingrotation of said pulley when said pulley has rotated windingly apredetermined amount and to permit said elongated means to unwind fromsaid pulley and allow said platform to fall to an extended position.

4. A swing structure comprising:

a support;

a pulley rotatably mounted on said support;

elongated means secured to said pulley and hanging for oscillatingmovement therefrom;

plate means rotatably secured to said support adjacent said pulley andhaving means thereon engaging said elongated means beneath said pulley,said plate means being rotatable by oscillation of said elongated means;

first means on said support and operatively connected to said platemeans and said pulley to rotate said pulley in a winding direction withrotation of said plate means in a winding direction by oscillation of isaid elongated means;

second means on said support to prevent rotation of said pulley in anunwinding direction when said plate means is rotated in an unwindingdirection by the oscillation of said elongated means;

and releasing means on said pulley to permit unimpeded unwindingrotation of said pulley when said pulley has rotated in a windingdirection a predetermined amount to permit said elongated means tounwind from said pulley.

5. A swing assembly adapted to be mounted on a support and comprising:

a sleeve receivable on said support and being rotatable relativethereto;

a pulley mounted on said sleeve and being rotatable relative thereto;

latch means on said pulley and engageable with said sleeve for rotationof said pulley with said sleeve;

elongated means secured to said pulley and extending therefrom andadaptable for oscillating movement beneath said pulley, said elongatedmeans having a platform at the lower end thereof;

plate means mounted on said sleeve and being rotatable relative theretoand engaging said elongated means, said plate means being rotated byoscillation of said elongated means;

first means engaging said sleeve and said plate means to cause rotationof said sleeve and rotation of said pulley when said plate means isrotated in a winding direction and when said latch means is engaged tothereby wind said elongated means onto said pulley;

second means engaging said sleeve and preventing rotation of said sleeveand said pulley when said plate means is rotated in an unwindingdirection and when said latch means is engaged;

and said latch means being releasable to permit rotation of said pulleyin an unwinding direction to permit unwinding of said elongated meanstherefrom and the return of said platform to an extended position.

6. The swing assembly set forth in claim 5 wherein said first meansincludes a spring wound around said sleeve and secured at one end tosaid plate means, said spring being wound in a direction to tightenaround said sleeve and lock said sleeve for rotation with said platemeans when said plate means is rotated in a winding direction and todisengage from said sleeve when said plate means is rotated in anunwinding direction.

7. The swing assembly set forth in claim 6 wherein said second meansincludes a spring wound around said sleeve and secured at one end tosaid support, said spring being wound in a direction to disengage fromsaid sleeve when said sleeve is rotated in a winding direction and totighten around said sleeve and prevent rotation thereof when said platemeans is rotated in an unwinding direction.

8. The swing assembly set forth in claim 5 wherein said first meansincludes a ratchet mounted on said sleeve and a movable pawl mounted onsaid plate means and engageable with said ratchet, said pawl being inengagement with said ratchet when said plate means is rotated in awinding direction to rotate said sleeve, and said pawl being disengagedfrom said ratchet when said plate means is rotated in an unwindingdirection.

9. The swing assembly set forth in claim 8 wherein said second meansincludes a ratchet mounted on said sleeve and a movable pawl mounted onsaid support and engageable with said ratchet, said pawl beingdisengaged from said ratchet when said sleeve is rotated in a Windingdirection, and said pawl being engageable with said ratchet when saidplate means is rotated in an unwinding direction to prevent rotation ofsaid sleeve in the unwinding direction.

10. The swing assembly set forth in claim 5 wherein said sleeve has anaperture formed therein adjacent said pulley, and said latch meansincludes a pin slidably mounted in said pulley, spring means biasingsaid pin into said aperture in said sleeve to prevent relative rotationbetween said pulley and said sleeve, and a lever pivotally mounted onsaid pulley and operatively engaging said pin, said lever beingactuatable by said elongated means to withdraw said pin from saidaperture and permit relative rotation between said pulley and saidsleeve.

11. The swing assembly set forth in claim 5 and further including aspring secured to said elongated means at one end and secured to saidplatform at the other end to take up the shock of said platform fallingto said extended position.

12. A swing assembly adapted to be mounted on a support and comprising:

a sleeve receivable on said support and rotatable relative thereto, saidsleeve having an aperture through one wall thereof;

a pulley mounted on said sleeve and rotatable relative thereto, saidpulley having a generally radial opening therein communicating with saidaperture in said sleeve;

a latch pin in said opening in said pulley;

resilient means urging said latch pin into said aperture in said sleeveto prevent relative rotation between said pulley and said sleeve;

lever means pivotally mounted on said pulley and engaging said latchpin, said lever means being operable to withdraw said latch pin fromsaid aperture in said sleeve to permit relative rotation between saidpulley and said sleeve;

elongated means secured to said pulley and hanging therefrom, saidelongated means being adapted to wrap around said pulley when saidpulley is rotated in a winding direction;

a platform on the end of said elongated means, said platform and saidelongated means being adapted to swing back and forth beneath saidpulley;

plate member rotatably mounted on said sleeve and engaging saidelongated means below said pulley and movable in winding and unwindingdirections with movement of said elongated means;

means operatively connected to said plate member and said sleeve andadapted to be secured to said support to permit rotation of said sleeveand said pulley when said plate member is rotated in a winding directionand to prevent rotation of said sleeve and said pulley when said platemember is rotated in an unwinding direction, whereby said elongatedmeans will be wound around said pulley and said platform will beelevated;

said lever means being actuatable by said elongated means when saidpulley has been rotated a predetermined amount to withdrawn said latchpin and allow rotation of said pulley relative to said sleeve and permitsaid elongated means and said platform to fall to a fully extendedposition.

13. The swing assembly set forth in claim 12 wherein said meansoperatively connected to said plate member and said sleeve and adaptedto be secured to said support includes:

a first coil spring wound around said sleeve and secured at one end tosaid plate member, said spring 'being wound in a direction to tightenaround said sleeve when said plate member is rotated in a windingdirection and lock said sleeve to said plate member, said springloosening from said sleeve when said plate member is rotated in anunwinding direction;

and a second coil spring wound around said sleeve and having one endsecurable to said support, said second spring being wound in a directionto loosen from said sleeve when said plate member and said sleeve arerotated in a winding direction, said second spring tightening aroundsaid sleeve when said plate member is rotated in an unwinding direction.

14. The swing assembly set forth in claim 13 and further including aspring secured at one end to said elongated means and at the other endto said platform to take up the shock of said platform reaching theextended position.

15. The swing assembly set forth in claim 12 wherein said meansoperatively connected to said plate member and said sleeve and adaptedto be secured to said support includes:

a first ratchet gear secured to said sleeve;

a first pawl engageable and disengageable with said first ratchet gearand pivotally mounted on said plate member, said first pawl beingengageable when said plate member is rotated in a winding direction anddisengageable when said plate member is rotated in an unwindingdirection;

a second ratchet gear secured to said sleeve;

bracket means adapted to be fixed relative to said support;

and a second pawl engageable and disengagea-ble with said second ratchetgear and pivotally mounted on said bracket means, said second pawl beingdisengaged when said plate member is rotated in a winding direction andengaged when saidtplate member is rotated in an unwinding direction.

16. The swing assembly set forth in claim 15 and further including aspring secured at one end to said elongated means and at the other endto said platform to take up the shock of said platform reaching theextended position.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 461,541 10/1891 Bunker 272-86842,635 1/1907 Dodson 272-86 1,991,459 2/1935 Heimers 272.-1 2,197,6004/1940 Wimer 272-61 X 3,207,508 9/1965 Klemke 272 ANTON O. OECHSLE,Primary Examiner.

ARNOLD W. KRAMER, Assistant Examiner.

